Alexis Castle-Lacance and her 4-year-old son Lucas stode through the door Lucas had had a long day at the U.N. International School in Queens and the first thing Lucas did was to run right to Kate wanting to get his hug quota for the day. Taking a knee Kate asked Lucas "want to be my taster?"

Lucas just knoded his head grinning stating "Yes Nanna"

This scene had played many times before; it was Kate's and Lucas little ritual taking a single noodle from the plate and Kate asking, "What do you think?"

Little Lucas thought it through a moment before saying "Needs more cheese... nana!" His mother Alexis walked up behind them shaking her head stating, "You always say that Lucas"

With a wink and a nod, Kate said, "I think your right." With the wedge of Parmigiano-Reggiano in one hand and the grader in the other Kate went round the table giving each plate a fresh shower of cheese.

Then Lucas spotted his one and only Aunt running to the sofa to give Annmarie the same treatment he gave Kate but this time he didn't bother to slow down all that much ran into Annmarie's waiting arms. Saying in perfect french "Missed you tante Annmarie"

"Missed you Aunt Annmarie"

Annmarie replied "Tu m'as manqué aussi Lucas"

Most if not all of the kids Lucas went to school with only spoke one language "English" but Lucas was bilingual and his father David Lacance was a french attaché attached to the "U.N." in New York so Lucas was Bilingual.

Ten minutes later Lucas was starting to doze off in his aunt's lap when Kate called out "Its ready"

Alexis was about to grab her son from her sisters lap when Annmarie shifted his position and stood up saying softly "You're going to sleep through your favorite meal... kido"

To hear Lucas tell it, there was only one food group "Pasta" any kind of pasta.

Annmarie gingerly put Lucas in his chair just as he started to stir rubbing his eyes and wiggling his nose as the perfume of fettuccine alfredo wafted up off the plate and passed his face waking him.

Taking her seat Annmarie stated, "Kevin Ryan, Captain Esposito old partner joined Homeland security a few years back apparently he became a U.S. Marshal"

Kate commented "I heard a roomer about that a while back"

Alexis said "Mom its December 25... Your wedding anniversary is new-years day... any plans"

Swallowing her food Kate gave Rick a sideways glance saying, "Your father won't tell me where we are going... so I don't know what to pack!"

"Come on dad" Said Annmarie "At least give her that much"

Rick stated doing some asthmatic gymnastics in his head "Lets see Annmarie... you were my gift to your mother on our first wedding anniversary"

"Dad" Said Annmarie with a smirk "That won't work... besides mom already told me"

"Kate... your taking away all my best blackmail material" Rick said scowling

"How is you're Italian... Kate" Rick asked "And your skiing legs?"

Alexis mind was razer-sharp as she said "Italian Alps... dad"

"Campitello di Fassa" Said Rick correcting her.

I bought I privite challet there.

30 minutes later as they were clearing, the table Annmarie asked her Father "Dad, when did you know you loved mom!"

"I'd like to say it was the first moment I saw her..."

Thinking back Rick stated," The day I realized I couldn't live without her was also the worst day of my life." Said Rick "It was Captain Montgomery's Funeral... your mother had just gotten up to speak... the next think I knew she was on the ground with a bullet in her chest... she scared the crap out of me"

Annmarie asked her father "So... dad who did you fall in love with "Nikki... or mom"

"You're tricky Annmarie" Rick smiled as he told Annmarie "To me your mother and Nikki Heat... their one in the same..."

Kate came walking up to Rick and said "Good answer... sweetheart"